SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL 73008

THE X-RAY SPECTRUM OF THE NEWLY DISCOVERED PULSAR 1SAX J1324.4-6200

ABSTRACT

The X-ray pulsar 1SAX J1324.4-6200 discovered recently with BeppoSAX with a period of 170.84 s joins the small group of pulsars with periods > 100s, of which only 3 others have periods between 100-200s. Non-detection in the IPC implies a relatively recent brightening. We propose a single observation using the good spectral capabilities of ASCA. The main aims are to clarify the nature of the companion, determine continuum parameters including cut-off energy, measure energies and EWs of lines, several of which are indicated in the SAX data, and fit the edge at 7.2 keV. Thus we can constrain the ionization state and properties of line emitting regions, of a wind, and location of fluorescent emission. We can also carry out pulse phase resolved spectroscopy, search for period changes and QPOs.